Halitosis: Common Culprits in Your Diet
Posted on: 15 May 2017
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Bad breath is one of the oral problems that most people will be horrified to develop. Although in some instances bad breath will come about as a symptom of an underlying ailment, more often than not it is usually caused by certain foods in your diet. Several organic components in your food would make you susceptible to bad breath such as protein, volatile sulphuric compounds, and acid. VSCs tend to readily convert into gas, thus causing immediate bad breath with you eat some foods. Proteins, on the other hand, are quickly broken down by bacteria in your mouth. As such, there is waste containing VSCs in your mouth, causing the bad breath. Lastly, acid provides a habitable breeding ground for bacteria, accelerating their waste production, leading to halitosis. So what are some of the common food culprits in your diet that would cause bad breath?
Coffee
When it comes to coffee, it should be noted the stronger you like your blend, the higher the chances that it will adversely affect your breath. The saliva in your mouth is supposed to aid in rinsing bacteria out. However, when you drink coffee, you slow down the production of saliva because the caffeine inhibits its release. This reduction of the amount of saliva in your mouth makes it a prime breeding ground for bacteria, as their multiplication will be accelerated.
The more the bacteria in your mouth, the more gases being released due to their biological functions. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that "coffee breath" is a term that has been coined for people who tend to drink copious amounts of this fluid.
Dairy
Once you have consumed milk products, you will notice that you have a sour after taste in your mouth. Some people even complain about their tongue feeling chalky. The reason this happens is the amino acids that are contained in the cheese, milk and other dairy products are broken down at an accelerated rate by the bacteria that is present in your mouth. Thus, soon after you have ingested dairy, you will find that your breath will start to smell off.
Moreover, individuals who suffer from an intolerance to lactose will lack the right enzymes to sufficiently break down the dairy, which in turn causes the amino acids to accumulate. The buildup leads to increased VSCs in their mouth, causing severe halitosis. It is advisable to always brush your teeth after ingesting lactose-based products if you would like to keep your breath smelling fresh.